Kate Middleton and Prince William to sue over topless pictures

Kate Middleton and Prince William have begun legal action against France’s Closer magazine for printing topless photos of the pair on holiday, St James’s Palace has confirmed.

Prince William and Kate Middleton were ‘saddened’ by the publication of topless pictures (Picture: AFP/Getty)

A royal spokesperson said legal proceedings had already been launched in France and were for breach of privacy.

The announcement comes after the editor of the magazine defended her decision to publish the revealing photos, saying they are not shocking – despite the Palace calling it a ‘grotesque invasion of privacy’.

Laurence Pieau, whose publication went on sale today and featured a blurred image of the Duchess of Cambridge on its front page, denied the photos were degrading.

‘These photos are not in the least shocking,’ she said. ‘They show a young woman sunbathing topless, like the millions of women you see on beaches.’

Nevertheless, St James’s Palace has reacted with anger, calling the publication of the pictures a ‘grotesque’ invasion of privacy.

Editor of Closer Magazine Laurence Pieau (Picture: Sky)

Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge are said to be ‘angry’ and in ‘disbelief’ at the pictures, which have been compared to the levels of press intrusion that effectively cost William’s mother Diana her life in a car chase in Paris in 1997.

St James’s Palace confirmed the photos were of Kate and a source said the royals ‘couldn’t believe the pictures were taken’.

In a strongly worded statement the Palace said: ‘Their Royal Highnesses have been hugely saddened to learn that a French publication and a photographer have invaded their privacy in such a grotesque and totally unjustifiable manner.

‘The incident is reminiscent of the worst excesses of the press and paparazzi during the life of Diana, Princess of Wales, and all the more upsetting to the Duke and Duchess for being so.’

Closer magazine claims to have exclusive pictures of the royal on its website (Picture: Closer)

The spokesman said it was ‘unthinkable’ that anyone would have even taken the pictures, while also confirming officials acting for the couple were currently consulting with lawyers to discuss possible legal options.

Closer magazine – which is separate from the UK publication of the same name – claims to have exclusive pictures of Kate on a terrace of a guest house, which is thought to be a chateau owned by Lord Linley, taken while the couple were on holiday in France last week.

The magazine’s website showed a pixellated image of a woman with dark hair on its latest front cover, which it claims is the Duchess.

The woman is about to remove her bikini top.

The royal couple are keeping focused on their tour of the Far East (Picture: Getty)

A royal source earlier said William and Kate weren’t seeking to involve the Press Complaints Commission because they were not aware of anyone in the UK seeking to publish the photos.

William and Kate were told about the pictures this morning before they visited the Assyakirin Mosque and they have also viewed them on the website.

The couple’s press secretary said: ‘The Duke and Duchess remain focused currently on their tour of Singapore, Malaysia, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu on behalf of HM The Queen.’

The royals have visited a mosque for the first time during their tour of Malaysia.